cruel

[kroo-uhl]

adjective

crueler, cruelest 

1. willfully or knowingly causing pain or distress to others.

   Synonyms: relentless, merciless, ferocious, bloodthirsty
   Antonyms: kind

2. enjoying the pain or distress of others.

   the cruel spectators of the gladiatorial contests.

   Antonyms: compassionate, sympathetic

3. causing or marked by great pain or distress.

   a cruel remark;

   a cruel affliction.

4. rigid; stern; strict; unrelentingly severe.

cruel

/ ˈkruːəl /

adjective

1. causing or inflicting pain without pity

   a cruel teacher

2. causing pain or suffering

   a cruel accident

Other Word Forms

• cruelly adverb
• cruelness noun
• uncruel adjective
• uncruelly adverb
• uncruelness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cruel¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin crūdēlis, equivalent to crūd(us) ( crude ) + -ēlis, adjective suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of cruel¹

C13: from Old French, from Latin crūdēlis, from crūdus raw, bloody

Synonym Study

Cruel, pitiless, ruthless, brutal, savage imply readiness to cause pain to others. Cruel implies willingness to cause pain, and indifference to suffering: a cruel stepfather. Pitiless adds the idea of refusal to show compassion: pitiless to captives. Ruthless implies cruelty and unscrupulousness, letting nothing stand in one's way: ruthless greed. Brutal implies cruelty that takes the form of physical violence: a brutal master. Savage suggests fierceness and brutality: savage battles.

Example Sentences

"It's cruel for the US not to rule out the Kabul flight," he said.

From BBC

This much is clear: The president’s cruel, fascist theater isn’t a reaction or side effect.

From Salon

If that’s even 10 percent true, it has to rank as one of the cruelest historical ironies imaginable.

From Salon

Scottish football's heart was broken four times this week, each more cruel and unusual than the last.

From BBC

“To claim Jeremy ‘refused to exit the vehicle’ — before being shot at and after — is not only misleading, it’s a cruel manipulation of the facts.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• atrocious 
• barbarous 
• bitter 
• brutal 
• callous 
• cold-blooded 
• evil 
• harsh 
• hateful 
• heartless 
• inhuman 
• inhumane 
• merciless 
• painful 
• relentless 
• ruthless 
• sadistic 
• spiteful 
• tyrannical 
• unkind